PENAMPANG: Deputy Secretary General of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Darell Leiking, is adamant to pursue the 20/18 Points of Sabah and Sarawak respectively despite a ‘warning’ issued by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“What ‘disharmony’ is he talking about,” queried a furious Penampang lawmaker, while expressing his disgust with the Sarawak senior politician.
“Why give warning relating the safeguards (20/18 Points) which were created in the first place to protect the interests of Sabahans and Sarawakians in Malaysia?
“The provisions of these safeguards were agreed to by the Federal Government back then and thereafter were incorporated into the Malaysian Agreement 1963”.
Leiking charged that it is ridiculous to stop Malaysians from discussing these safeguards.
“These are historical facts and have become the beacon for all Malaysians to understand the special positions conferred upon the Sabahans and Sarawakians,” he said.
He disagreed that the BN Government should now say that it is ‘illegal’ for anyone to speak about an agreement which has been agreed to earlier on?
He also reckoned that the moment you put a ‘gag’ on these safeguards, Sabahans and Sarawakians will be thrown back into the realms of inferiority, in comparison to their counterparts in Peninsular.
“I am totally disgusted with the way of how BN Government tries to portray themselves as being ‘bigger and higher’ than these 20/18 Points,” Leiking pointed out.
“These safeguards will always be of higher position and standing than the BN Government itself. Why? Because without the 20/18 Points, Malaysia would not exist”.
Leiking likened the 20 and 18 Points as the clauses which exists in a Partnership Agreement of a partnership company.
“In a partnership company, we can’t simply say that all is good within the company just because the clauses which are acceptable by all the partners have been incorporated into the Partnership Agreement; there must be specific performances by respective partners.
“So, the partners may need to review the agreement from time to time as to whether the partners have fulfilled and performed their obligations and responsibilities,” he explained.
Leiking who is vocal on this issue suspects that there is an attempt to protect the Sabah’s and Sarawak’s BN MPs from committing to the call for the review of 20/18 Points and Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“In my last speech at the Parliament (which was actually the motion to debate on the 20/18 Points and Malaysian Agreement 1963), I have asked the Sabah’s and Sarawak’s BN MPs to support the motion to have these points reviewed.
“But it is understandable when they opt to remain silent since they need to protect their own interests within BN,” he added.
However, growing disappointment and anger shown by Sabahans and Sarawakians in the social media due to these BN MPs’ silence has led the BN Government no other choice but to protect them.
So the veiled threat from the Deputy Ministry of Home Affairs is a perfect way to cover these BN MPs from Sabah and Sarawak from making any comments relating to these safeguards, he contends.
And I would not be surprised at all if some BN friendly NGOs will suddenly start making noises, supporting the warning issued by Wan Junaidi, he added.
Leiking said that he will not back off from pursuing the review and implementation of the safeguards and provisions of the Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“I am the elected representative in the Parliament from Sabah and people expect me to do what is right for the State, no more no less.
“These safeguards have been there for so long now and Sabahans/Sarawakians have been wondering for so long now as to why the BN Government seems to be afraid to talk about these safeguards, ” he explained.
Borneo Insider
“What ‘disharmony’ is he talking about,” queried a furious Penampang lawmaker, while expressing his disgust with the Sarawak senior politician.
“Why give warning relating the safeguards (20/18 Points) which were created in the first place to protect the interests of Sabahans and Sarawakians in Malaysia?
“The provisions of these safeguards were agreed to by the Federal Government back then and thereafter were incorporated into the Malaysian Agreement 1963”.
Leiking charged that it is ridiculous to stop Malaysians from discussing these safeguards.
“These are historical facts and have become the beacon for all Malaysians to understand the special positions conferred upon the Sabahans and Sarawakians,” he said.
He disagreed that the BN Government should now say that it is ‘illegal’ for anyone to speak about an agreement which has been agreed to earlier on?
He also reckoned that the moment you put a ‘gag’ on these safeguards, Sabahans and Sarawakians will be thrown back into the realms of inferiority, in comparison to their counterparts in Peninsular.
“I am totally disgusted with the way of how BN Government tries to portray themselves as being ‘bigger and higher’ than these 20/18 Points,” Leiking pointed out.
“These safeguards will always be of higher position and standing than the BN Government itself. Why? Because without the 20/18 Points, Malaysia would not exist”.
Leiking likened the 20 and 18 Points as the clauses which exists in a Partnership Agreement of a partnership company.
“In a partnership company, we can’t simply say that all is good within the company just because the clauses which are acceptable by all the partners have been incorporated into the Partnership Agreement; there must be specific performances by respective partners.
“So, the partners may need to review the agreement from time to time as to whether the partners have fulfilled and performed their obligations and responsibilities,” he explained.
Leiking who is vocal on this issue suspects that there is an attempt to protect the Sabah’s and Sarawak’s BN MPs from committing to the call for the review of 20/18 Points and Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“In my last speech at the Parliament (which was actually the motion to debate on the 20/18 Points and Malaysian Agreement 1963), I have asked the Sabah’s and Sarawak’s BN MPs to support the motion to have these points reviewed.
“But it is understandable when they opt to remain silent since they need to protect their own interests within BN,” he added.
However, growing disappointment and anger shown by Sabahans and Sarawakians in the social media due to these BN MPs’ silence has led the BN Government no other choice but to protect them.
So the veiled threat from the Deputy Ministry of Home Affairs is a perfect way to cover these BN MPs from Sabah and Sarawak from making any comments relating to these safeguards, he contends.
And I would not be surprised at all if some BN friendly NGOs will suddenly start making noises, supporting the warning issued by Wan Junaidi, he added.
Leiking said that he will not back off from pursuing the review and implementation of the safeguards and provisions of the Malaysian Agreement 1963.
“I am the elected representative in the Parliament from Sabah and people expect me to do what is right for the State, no more no less.
“These safeguards have been there for so long now and Sabahans/Sarawakians have been wondering for so long now as to why the BN Government seems to be afraid to talk about these safeguards, ” he explained.
Borneo Insider
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